We won’t let racism divide us – join the 21 March demonstrations

Campaigners across Europe are out to block the rising tide of racism. In Britain there are protests on Saturday 21 March in London, Glasgow and Cardiff.

Amal Azzudin is an anti-racist campaigner in Glasgow. She was one of the Glasgow Girls who stopped a classmate being deported in 2005.

“I’m helping to organise the Glasgow march,” she told Socialist Worker. “We need to make a big noise to show how many of us oppose the rise of racism, Islamophobia and fascism.

“Politicians’ propaganda that scapegoats immigrants is terrible. Blaming migrants for economic problems is total rubbish.”

Amal said she was “scared” by the rise of the far right Pegida in Germany. “But I saw more and more people marching against them,” she said. “We can do that here.”

Janet Alder has been campaigning since her brother Christopher died in police custody in Hull. “The Stand Up to Racism demo last year was fantastic because it brought everyone fighting racism together,” she told Socialist Worker.

“I come from the angle of people affected by police brutality. Things are not getting any better and arguably they are worse.

Accountable

“We need to unite continuously to make them accountable. I look forward to seeing the same people as last year and many more. We have to fight for justice and equality.”

Activists in Greece originally called for anti-racist demonstrations on 21 March to counter the rise of the fascist party Golden Dawn.

Syriza MP Vassiliki Katrivanou told Socialist Worker that it is important for anti-racists to take to the streets even if the government is pushing anti-racist policies.

“If the government is going the right way the people should support it, and push it to go faster,” she said.

“Racism is something you struggle against, not something you can end with just a law.”

Anti-racists in Greece are fighting to end detention camps for migrants. Vassiliki described them as a “dishonour to humankind”.

“There are 4,500 people in camps, including minors, including sick people and asylum seekers,” she said.

“People can be detained for an indefinite time. There are no doctors, the food is horrible. The previous government created this—and we have to end it.”